Allard: Lights still out at NFA

I just got done covering the Montville-Norwich Free Academy football game on a Saturday afternoon in Norwich and the question remains, where are the lights?

Marc Allard

I just got done covering the Montville-Norwich Free Academy football game on a Saturday afternoon in Norwich and the question remains, where are the lights? The old standby excuse has always been that the neighbors will complain about the light and the noise. Considering there are now three less houses bordering the NFA campus, that argument holds a little less water. Plus, the band practices on the turf field on many nights under the little lighting that exists. It sounds to me like it’s the old stickler — money. It’s true there is a plan in place to bring portable lights in for five weeks starting in October, but here’s the rub. The NFA football team is one of the best in the state and, if all goes according to plan, likely will finish the regular season undefeated. That being the case, the Wildcats likely will have a Class LL state quarterfinal home game.

Oops. That’s not going to happen. The CIAC has a rule that states host sites must have permanent lights in place, not portable. Wildcat fans had best hope Montville is available or they will be hoofing it to East Lyme, Waterford or New London come December.

Sun fans

A loud hurrah for fans of the Connecticut Sun. Despite the team being hopelessly out of the playoffs, fans still came. Last Sunday, more than 8,000 people turned out for the final game of the season. It prompted Coach Anne Donovan to tell me that she can’t understand why a player like Sandrine Gruda, of France, wouldn’t want to come to the Mohegan Sun Arena to play. There is one reason that many in the WNBA cite when they come to town; outside of the Mohegan Sun itself, what else is there to do in the area? It’s in a remote location, nowhere near the airport and not in a large city as most are accustomed to. At least, we can argue that we have an abundance of Dunkin’ Donuts, right?

Soccer at Dodd

The Connecticut Tigers continue to be inventive when it comes to the use of Dodd Stadium. When I talked with general manager C.J. Knudsen this past summer, he said he was working on bringing soccer to the stadium. Soccer? He assured me that the outfield grass of the stadium is one of the best pitches for a match in Connecticut. We will find out this week when the Norwich Free Academy girls play Bacon Academy on Wednesday and the two boys teams from those schools play on Thursday. Both games will take place at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers’ strategy is simple: the more people they can get familiar with the stadium and its location, the more likely they are to return next summer for a Tigers game. There is a $5 admission charge that Knudsen said will cover some of the stadium expenses. It’s a little different approach than baseball where the schools pay for the cost of using the field and fans are allowed in free of charge.

Poor scheduling

Why, oh why, can’t the Eastern Connecticut Conference see? I speak on my own behalf on this one, but why can’t schedules be worked out so that the ECC soccer championship games and football games aren’t on the same night. The Bulletin and other local publications certainly want to cover the games, but with limited staffs, it’s becoming increasingly difficult. Six football games are scheduled on Friday, Nov. 1 in addition to the two soccer championship games. On Saturday, Nov. 2, there is one football game and it takes place in the morning. Move something to Thursday or Saturday (or both) and the soccer championships will get the attention they deserve.

Other notes

I’m going to grow a beard. It seems to have worked for the Red Sox.

A note to NBC...please bring back Faith Hill. There’s nothing wrong with Carrie Underwood, but there’s something about Faith’s version of “Sunday Night Football” that Underwood is missing.

I understand Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman made it possible for the Patriots to say goodbye to Wes Welker and that the whole Aaron Hernandez debacle and Rob Gronkowski injury has thrown the offense out of whack. But can’t the Pats get someone for Tom Brady to throw downfield to? Someone please put some super glue on Aaron Hobson’s gloves.